Roswell man sentenced in drug case

A 26-year-old Roswell man was sentenced Wednesday in 12th Judicial District Court for attempting to take 3.3 pounds of marijuana through the Border Patrol checkpoint on U.S. Highway 70.

In a plea agreement with the state, Julio Jaramillo Acosta pleaded no contest to fourth-degree felony marijuana distribution.

Under the plea agreement, Acosta received 18 months of supervised probation for the fourth-degree felony.

Acosta also must forfeit his 2004 silver Ford Mustang because of the civil forfeiture against him. During Acosta's sentencing hearing, it was revealed he had no past criminal record. He will serve his supervised probation in Roswell.

The state must prove in a civil forfeiture case that the owner bought property with proceeds of the criminal activity. The state is then entitled to receive 100 percent of the proceeds from the forfeiture of the property the Ford Mustang in this case).

Otero County Narcotics Enforcement Unit agents were dispatched to the Border Patrol checkpoint on U.S. Highway 70 around 11 a.m. Feb. 4. Acosta entered the checkpoint driving his 2004 Mustang.

"A Border Patrol K-9 unit alerted to the odor of narcotics on primary inspection," Sheriff Benny House said at the time. "Acosta was directed to the secondary inspection area. Agents recovered about 3.3 pounds of marijuana in the rear passenger area of the vehicle."Contact Duane Barbati at dbarbati@alamogordonews.com.